Learn more about the true history of Meaux with the Folles Époques! show and the Musée de la Grande Guerre

Why don’t you book your venue for the next edition of the “Folles Époques!” show in Meaux? The last shows happened between June 4 until July 9, 2022, with again an outstanding experience standing at the Episcopal City of Meaux. In this important city of Seine et Marne department, 2000 years of history would be told you in an epic and family show, only visible for 8 dates at nightfall. Therefore, the historical spectacle of Meaux invites its spectators since 1982, for a magical journey through time that built this city, easily reachable from Paris Gare De l’Est in just 25mn. Once seated in the stands, just in front of the incredible Saint Stephen Gothic Cathedral, relive the major dates of the local but also French history, as well in the Musée de la Grande Guerre, for more facts about World War 1. By AP

Therefore, this “Folles Époques!” is a collective adventure since it counts no less than 500 volunteer extras, wearing the honorable amount of 2,500 homemade costumes. This troop of passionate autochthons would offer you the best of their entertaining talent to either become comedians, dancers, musicians and horse riders, melted in this impressive sound and light show.

This amazing creation exists since 1982, and stands in front of the Saint Étienne de Meaux Cathedral, with the possibility to host more than 900 spectators on the stands. Most of them have surely traveled to Meaux with the desire to be bewitched by this summer super production, made in Seine-et-Marne.

 

 

This majestic edifice, began in the 12th century and was completed three centuries later with the construction of the northern tower of 60 meters. Therefore, this cathedral combines the different phases of Gothic era, from the classical style of the end of the 12th century until the flamboyant style, so typical of the 15th century.

In summary, during the 75mn duration of this fabulous show, learn more about the first Meaux people, called the Meldes, before the Viking invasions until the Roaring Twenties, while passing through the Middle Ages, but also sad episodes of the Plague, the Saint-Barthelemy, the French Revolution and the Battle Of The Marne, in the tragic WWI but also the WWII.

This epic realization is voice-overed with the participation of the French actor Lorànt Deutsch, but only in French version, without forgetting many dancing scenes, for your eyes only. Thus, a cool way to practice your French and introduce you to some illustrious men who left their mark in this Seine et Marne territory.

Among them, we can count on Bossuet, known as the important Bishop of Meaux, who played a major role, along Henri IV, Louis XVI (after his arrest) and Talleyrand. During 8 evenings only, from June 4th (but also 10th, 11th and 17th) until July 9th (but also 1st, 2, 8 and 9 July) 2022, learn more about the different facets of this fascinating urban biography of the city of Meaux. 

Not far from this, you are invited to visit the Bossuet Museum still located in the Episcopal Palace of Meaux, at the heart of the City enclosure of Gallo-Roman ramparts. also home to the cathedral, the old chapter house building and a charming episcopal garden.

On the first floor, don’t miss the Synod room, with its large apartments, the chapel and annexes are home to the museum’s Fine Art collections. This space includes paintings and sculptures that supplement the major directions of the various collections in the building.

Furthermore, the 19th-century art collection includes, among others, artworks by Jean-François Millet, Charles Daubigny, Alexandre Decamps, Jean-Léon Gérôme, Camille Roqueplan, Hippolyte Sebron, Herman Loeschin… Edmé Bouchardon, Louis Ernest Barrias, Jean-François Gechter, as well as anonymous medieval artists’ sculptures.